Peter Griffin
A bespectacled, obese blue-collar worker with a prominent Rhode Island and Eastern Massachusetts accent, whose outrageous humor and slapstick antics drive the chaos of Quahog.
Peter Griffin is the boisterous, blue-collar patriarch of the Griffin family and the central protagonist of the American animated sitcom Family Guy. He first appeared on television in the episode "Death Has a Shadow" on January 31, 1999, voiced by series creator Seth MacFarlane. Peter was created and designed by MacFarlane, who based him on the character Larry from his earlier short films The Life of Larry and Larry & Steve. Peter is married to Lois and is the father of Meg, Chris, and Stewie, and he has a dog named Brian, with whom he is best friends. He has worked at a toy factory and at Quahog's Brewery. His voice was inspired by security guards MacFarlane heard at his school. Peter has appeared in several pieces of Family Guy merchandise and has made crossover appearances in other shows, including The Simpsons, Drawn Together, and fellow MacFarlane-associated series American Dad!, Bordertown, and The Cleveland Show.
Quick Facts
- Series
- Family Guy
- First
- "Death Has a Shadow" (1999)
- Creator
- Seth MacFarlane
- Occupation
- Brewery shipping clerk
- Former safety inspector at the Happy-Go-Lucky toy factory
- Former fisherman
- Family
- Thelma Griffin (mother)
- Francis Griffin (adoptive father)
- Karen Griffin (sister)
- Chip Griffin (twin brother)
- Spouse
- Lois Griffin
- Relatives
- Mickey McFinnigan (biological father)
- Gender
- Male
Lore & Background
Peter Griffin is a middle-class Irish American in his mid‑forties, though his age has never been officially confirmed and has fluctuated throughout the series. He was born in Quahog, Rhode Island. He and his wife Lois have three children: Meg, Chris, and Stewie. He also has one deceased child: Peter Jr., who was stillborn. Peter is the illegitimate son of Thelma Griffin and Mickey McFinnigan, and was raised by Thelma and his stepfather, Francis Griffin. In the episode "Peter's Two Dads", Peter realizes that Francis is not his true father. Peter has made reference to several ancestors he claims were historically important figures, such as Moses Griffin, Angus Griffin, Ulysses S. Griffin, King Arthur Griffin, Ponce de León Griffin, Huck Griffin, "Guy in the White Hat" Griffin, and King of Denmark Griffin. Peter and his family live in the fictional town of Quahog, Rhode Island, which is modeled after Providence, Rhode Island. He primarily worked as a safety inspector at the Happy-Go-Lucky Toy Factory until the factory was destroyed in season 4; his boss, Jonathan Weed, later died of a heart attack in the episode "The Giggity Wife". Peter then became a fisherman on his own boat, the "S.S. More Powerful Than Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, and the Incredible Hulk Put Together", with the help of two Portuguese immigrants, Santos and Pasqual, until his boat was destroyed. He now works in the shipping department of the Pawtucket Patriot brewery. Peter briefly played for the NFL's New England Patriots until his behavior resulted in his being kicked off the team in the episode "Patriot Games". In several cutaway gags, Peter is shown to have previously held many jobs requiring higher education, such as a United Nations interpreter, a sonologist, an opera singer with a band called "The Four Peters", and a bomb defuser. In a running gag, storylines are interrupted by extremely long, unexpected fights between Peter and Ernie the Giant Chicken, an anthropomorphic chicken who serves as an archenemy.
Reader's Guide
Peter Griffin is a stereotypical blue-collar worker who frequently goes to a local bar with his neighbors and friends Cleveland Brown, Joe Swanson, and Glenn Quagmire, called "The Drunken Clam," Quahog's main tavern. In the season 4 episode "Petarded", Peter discovered his I.Q. is around 70, falling slightly below the level for intellectual disability, and he is declared intellectually disabled. Peter might have brain damage in Wernicke's area as he cuts away into seemingly random situations and speaks in perfect grammar but cannot seem to choose how to create a sentence. He is known for his brash impulsiveness, which has led to awkward situations, such as attempting to molest Meg in order to adopt a redneck lifestyle. He is easily influenced by anyone he finds interesting and will often try to replicate their lifestyle and behavior. He is incredibly jealous of other attractions Lois has in her life, an attitude which led to extreme situations, such as when he assaulted a whale that kissed Lois at SeaWorld. In the season 3 episode "Stuck Together, Torn Apart", Peter and Lois split up because of Peter's jealousy, only to discover that Lois has the same character flaw and they decide to live together with their mutually jealous nature. Peter has a very short attention span which frequently leads him to bizarre situations, as Chris points out in "Long John Peter", after Peter's parrot dies: "He will get over it pretty quickly and then move on to another wacky thing."
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Peter Griffin's powers or role?
Peter holds no supernatural abilities but acts as a catalyst for slapstick humor and outrageous situations throughout the series. His primary role is that of a blue-collar worker who frequently engages in absurd antics with his dog, Brian.
Who does Peter Griffin live with?
He resides with his wife Lois, children Meg and Chris, son Stewie, and best friend Brian the dog. This household forms the core dynamic for most of the show's storylines.
More in Characters & Voices
Elsewhere in Family Guy
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